Scientific Pig Farming Made Easy in One Month

Author: Huang Rongsheng / et al.
Editor-in-Chief: Li Lijun
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1999-05-01
Features:
Fragment: China is a large agricultural country, and long-term agricultural and livestock production practices have formed a rich variety of pig breeds. Based on origin, pig breeds can be divided into three major types: local breeds, improved breeds, and introduced breeds; based on lean meat content in the carcass, they can also be categorized as fatty (or fat-muscle) breeds, meat-fat breeds, and lean meat (meat-type) breeds. Most local breeds belong to fatty breeds, most improved breeds to meat-fat breeds, and most introduced breeds to lean meat breeds.
I. Main Lean-Meat Pig Breeds
There are five major introduced pig breeds from abroad: the Large White (Yorkshire), Landrace (L), Duroc, Hampshire, and Pietrain. China has also bred its own varieties, such as the Sanjiang White, Zhejiang White, and Hubei White. These breeds share the common characteristic of high lean meat content in the carcass (57% or higher). Using these breeds as either sires or dams in economic hybridization can increase the lean meat yield of commercial pigs.
(1) Large White (Yorkshire)
The Large White was developed in England in the 18th century and is a world-famous lean-meat pig breed with good adaptability. Its main advantages include rapid growth, high feed efficiency, large litter size, and high lean meat content in the carcass.
1. External Characteristics
Large and well-proportioned, with upright ears, a straight nose, and relatively tall legs. The entire body is covered in white hair. Adult boars weigh 250–300 kg, and adult sows weigh 230–250 kg.
2. Growth and Fattening Performance
Weighs 90–100 kg at 6 months of age, with a feed-to-meat ratio of about 1:3, a slaughter rate of 71–73%, and a lean meat percentage of 60–65%.
3. Reproductive Performance
Late sexual maturity, with secondary estrus appearing around 5 months of age. Multiparous sows produce about 10 live piglets per litter. Litter weight at 35 days of weaning is 80 kg.
(2) Landrace (L)
The Landrace originated in Denmark and is one of the world's most famous lean-meat pig breeds. Its main characteristics include large litter size, rapid growth, feed efficiency, high lean meat content in the carcass, but poor resilience and higher feed nutrition requirements.
1. External Characteristics
Narrow and long head, flat facial features, long ears that extend forward and slightly droop, deep and long body with well-proportioned structure, particularly full and muscular hindquarters. The body is narrow at the front and wide at the rear, streamlined, and elegant, with 16 pairs of ribs and entirely white hair. Adult boars weigh 250–300 kg, and adult sows weigh 200–250 kg.
2. Growth and Fattening Performance
Develops rapidly, reaching 90 kg or more at 6 months of age, with daily gains of 500–800 g. Feed-to-meat ratio is 1:3, slaughter rate is 69–75%, and lean meat percentage is 50–65%.
3. Reproductive Performance
Late sexual maturity, with boars reaching maturity around 6 months of age and starting mating at 8 months. Sows have an average litter size of 11.5 piglets. Average individual weight at 35 days of weaning is 8.5–10 kg.
(3) Duroc
The Duroc was developed in northeastern America in the 1860s and has now spread across the country. Its characteristics include strong constitution, high resilience, lower feed nutrition requirements compared to other lean-meat breeds, rapid growth, high feed efficiency, high lean meat content in the carcass, good meat quality, gentle temperament, and generally average sow reproductive performance with good maternal instincts. Adult boars weigh 340–450 kg, and adult sows weigh 300–390 kg. They are typically used as sires in hybridization.
1. External Characteristics
The entire body is covered in golden or reddish-brown hair, with varying shades. The head is small and refined, the snout is short and straight, and the ears are medium-sized and slightly droopy. The back and waist are straight during the growth period and slightly arched in adulthood. The chest is wide and deep, and the hindquarters are muscular. The legs are strong and sturdy, with black hooves, and most stand upright.